By Gerri Miller
Elmore/Autauga News Staff Writer
He’s become a River Region internet sensation and the self-proclaimed mayor of the imaginary City of Potholesville. His name is David Thomas and he’s been a bright star in a dark time of quarantines, COVID-related illnesses and deaths.
Thomas said that with the world going crazy around him, he had an idea to make others laugh when stimulus checks started going out in January. He posted a photo of himself in front of Applebee’s asking women to come help him spend his check on the finer things in life such as Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and chicken wings.
Then in February, Covid hit 41-year-old Thomas personally. He spent eight days in Prattville Baptist Hospital on oxygen fighting for his life. The virus aggravated an existing condition and permanently damaged his heart.
But Thomas said he didn’t want to become depressed about the situation or have a negative outlook on life. He mostly just wanted to make people laugh. He became a regular contributor to a community page on Facebook called City Watch (Uncut) Prattville. He soon had a dedicated group of followers who would post “Dave sightings” like they were playing “Where’s Waldo?” Thomas is a Door Dash delivery driver and frequently has requests from customers who want to take selfies with him.
He created a new page on Facebook simply called David Thomas. Within a week he had 1,500 followers and that number has continued to soar. He said he had the idea of using his page to benefit the community. “Little did I know it would blow up the way it did,” Thomas said.
He partnered with Bryan Jewelry in Prattville and the community donated more than 1,500 cans of food for the Montgomery Area Food Bank. The lucky winner got a date with David at downtown restaurant Kimberlias and an hour of axe throwing from Chilton County Battle Axe.
His online persona has grown and he now has a blog, a Youtube Channel, and a page dedicated to his next cause – getting potholes filled. Some of his dedicated followers on the CIty Watch page had yard signs made asking people to vote for Thomas as Mayor of Potholesville. He has also appointed friends in various fake positions such as the nurse or head of his economic development committee.
“There’s nothing worse than hitting a pothole and messing up your tires,” he said.
Thomas has also led a drive to get supplies donated for the Autauga County Humane Shelter. Instead of business cards, he takes donations for his drink coozies depicting him in his various antics with proceeds going to benefit the shelter. Sometimes he gives them to his faithful followers.
He said growing up he learned from his family how to be humble and give thanks. “I lost my mom when I was 18. She was killed in a wreck and my dad passed from in 2015 from renal failure,” he said. “It is so important just being there for your family.”
He said despite everything that has happened in his life, he is “beyond happy.”
“Sometimes we don’t understand God’s reasons,” he said, “but he has helped me through so many things.”
“I don’t care to be rich or famous,” Thomas said. “All of that can soon depart from you. I am just about making people laugh. I’ve been doing things like this for years, but it took the perfect storm to bring it together.”
See more of David’s photos below.
